Shoulder-brace.



n'. E. QUIQK a 's'. A. ARMSTRONG.

snomnn BELGE, APPLIQATIOI YILBD IBB. 24,' 100B.

Patented Nom-10,1908.

@9i/ineens ARMS,B.QNG, Q F ADARKA, OKLAHQMA.

SHOULIDE B-BBAE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

Application led February 24, 1908. Serial No. 417,402.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, DANIEL E. QUICK and STEPHEN A. ARMSTRONG, citizens of theVV Unlted States, residing at Anadarka, in the county of Caddo and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoulder-Braces; and we do declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description o the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap ertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved supporting brace for relieving strain on the muscles of the back when bending over.

The object of the invention is to provide a device to support the weight of the shoulders and relieve the muscles of the back from exertion when the wearer is in stooping or bent position, such as it is necessary to as,

sume In picking cotton, planting tobacco and similar occupations, and by the use of which a person may perform such work all day without becoming fatigued.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a rear elevation of the device applied showing the wearer in bent oyer position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device ref moved.

In the embodiment illustrated a body protecting member l is shown composed preferably in the form of rings 4 and 5 xed to or other suitable material which is to prevent the spring hereinafter described from chafin and rubbing the back of the wearer.

ounted at the remote ends of the members 2 and 3 are two fastening devices preferably in the form of rings 4 and 5 fixed to the leather straps in any suitable or desired manner. A coiled spring 6 is connected at its opposite ends to these rings 4 and 5 and designed to hold the members 2 and 3 separably connected. Shoulder straps 7 and 8 are attached to the ring 4 of the upper member 3 and are designed to pass over the shoulders of the wearer and be detachably connected at their free ends with a waist belt 9 secured intermediately of its ends to the plate or member 3. This belt 9 is designed to pass around the'waist of the wearer and hold the shoulder straps in proper position.

Adjustable straps 10 and 11 are attached to the ring 5 and extend laterally in opposite directions and are adapted to pass around the legs of the wearer to hold the lower end of the member 2 in osition. These straps l10 and 11 are pre erably provided with buckles to adapt them to be adjusted to fit the legs of dierent sized ersons. The member 2 operates across the Ilower portion of the back and when the wearer bends over the spring 6 will yield under the weight of the shoulders and will have sulicient strength to support the weight of the shoulders and remove the strain from the muscles of the back.

By the use of this device a man may stoop over and work in this position all day without getting tired.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

the construction and operatlon of the invenltion will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention., as defined in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention 1. A supporting brace comprising two separable members yieldably connected, leg engaging straps carried by one member, a waist belt connected with the other member, and shoulder straps carried by said last mentioned member and having their free` ends detachably connected with said belt.

2. A supporting brace comprising two flat members arranged in longitudinal alinement, a coiled spring yieldably connecting said members, leg engaging straps carried by one of said members, a waist belt connected to the other of said members, shoulder straps connected at one end to said belt carrying member and having their free ends detachably connected with said belt at the front portion thereof.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL E. QUICK. STEPHEN A. ARMSTRONG.

Witnesses:

P. H. ANDERSON, I. H. KERK. 

